Timber Creek Campground, Rocky Mountain National Park

During our trip we stayed at a lot of nice campgrounds and a few backcountry sites. When we stayed at the campgrounds, for the most part we were there to sleep. As soon as we would get up, we would get in the car and to start the day. When we got to our destination, we would brush our teeth in the parking lot after eating during the drive. Usually we were back to our sites before dark and we would eat supper at the picnic table. 

My favorite campground was Game Lodge in Custer State Park. There is a free campground in the Badlands called Sage Creek that I also loved  a lot. My least favorite campground was called Grizzly, and it was right near Mt Rushmore. It was uncomfortable and buggy. 

However, a close second to Game Lodge is Timber Creek. First off, apparently Timber Creek used to be a wooded. However the infestation of the Mountain Pine Beetle killed off the trees. So the campground was cleared. Of course we had never seen the campground in its original glory. So to us, it was fine. There was plenty of evidence of the missing trees. The ground was littered with brush and twigs. This worked for us, Laurie liked having campfires, because of these twigs, we didn't have to buy firewood. 

The campground had many reasons to be memorable and deserves a post all its own.

Our tent started leaking in Rocky Mountain. This wouldn't have mattered in the desert, but in the mountains, there were thunderstorms everyday. We had to buy a new tent (the blue one in the back). Before we trashed our old tent, we took a picture of us next to it. I have a tendency to get a bit sentimental with material things that I have shared memories with. (Did you see me go on and on about my old car?)

A bunch of elk routinely came into the campground. They ate the ash out of fire pits because of the minerals left behind. The elk with the blue collar has been treated with a contraceptive. The elk population has exploded and the park is experimenting with non lethal ways to control the population

Within a thirty minute period one morning, we had the herd of elk come through along with this cow moose

...and her baby boy

And if that weren't enough this mule deer came through. Mind you, this is right in the campground. Right along the campsites road and tents. 

If you walk behind the trees in the back left of the first picture, you come to this. This is the beginning of the mighty Colorado River. Although those trees look far away, its only because the tents and ourselves are so close. The walk from my tent to this spot was only a minute. From the closest campsite, maybe fifty feet.

 The river was loaded with small brook trout. One afternoon while DJ was fishing, five elk came by. DJ was standing on the bank fishing his fly rod. The elk crossed the river on both sides of him. He was paralyzed by the experience. He was surrounded by elk on all sides not more than a few arm's lengths away. He still talks about it as one of the most exhilarating experiences of his life